South Austin Trail Network

In case you were wondering what in tarnation is going on with the Violent Crown (that's what I call it, I know it's Violet) extension down by Convict Hill. Tonight's ride found it blocked (again) by a dozer. Coming in from the north, it was passable, so I squeeked by it and rode along Mopac to where the rebar ended and found they had just laid a bunch of new concrete and there really isn't a place to ride on the side...(there kind of is, but don't do it). So, I would expect the concrete pouring to continue northward for the next week or two (this is a huge guess). So, best to avoid that side of Mopac and just take Convict out a ways to either the liberry (I think it's funny to call it that) and drop in there or use the other entries before the liberry and then cross over the already-poured concrete section to the old trail that goes under Mopac.

Just a little FYI...

Well I guess we won't be going that way on tonight's Crank and Drank! Thanks for the update.

It's interesting looking at people's Stravas in that area. I can tell when there is active construction going on from the back tracking that people have to do. I was surprised about how much of the trail is concrete. It's good, because there can be a lot of water in there when it rains. We will be able to ride that trail even when it's raining now.

Attachment 12422How about taking the trail that heads left at the cave. Isn't there a connecting trail that will bring you back to the Mopac trail through Naim Dr.?

Could something like what I marked out in the image below be done? The City of Austin boundaries map tells us there's land to do it (image with blue lines).

Attachment 12420Attachment 12421

The Whirlpool Cave area proposal is a definite no. The lots for the houses on Islander Drive are surprisingly deep. There is a very rough existing trail there, that is not used much, that crosses several people's property lines already. It would be a bad idea to push that at all. The rest of that proposed trail is home owner's association land. They have only made minor noises about that Whirlpool to Brodie trail before but have so far let us have continued access. It would be a bad idea to push that at all. The rest of that proposal is on Texas Cave Management land. We have worked hard for an amicable truce with them for the trail, that gets heavy use, that is on their property now. It would be a bad idea to push that at all.

The other proposal area is mostly on city park land. But some of your line is on private land. Also, your proposed routing crosses the existing jeep track road that has been worn into nice single track in the middle of it, in several places. Most of that in there is bottom land that stays soggy for a long time after a rain. Wet like that jeep track at the turn stays for so long.

There is already an exit there on Nairn off The Hump. You don't have it drawn on your map, but heading north, right before The Hump you turn towards Nairn, get up on the damn (The Hump) and exit on to Nairn. Then you are correct, it is an alternate route to bypass the VCT construction, by going out on Latta then jumping back into the Whirlpool trail right before the Latta bridge to Convict Hill.

On my ride this morning I thought I was going to be a Cyclist On Patrol hero when I saw smoke out in the woods. Then the wind blew again and a cloud of cedar pollen, in the perfect shape of the tree it was leaving from, blew away in front of me. I wish I had video of it. I've seen it on the news before, but never such a perfect example of it live.

I found a black case (soft sided) with some glasses inside on tonight's ride through Stephenson Preserve (it was near/behind the church with the big red neon cross...lol). If you can tell me the color of the lenses, we can arrange getting them to you. Funny, I have the exact same glasses...!

Reports have said that this itty bitty bit of rain didn't hurt us at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Tip

On my ride this morning I thought I was going to be a Cyclist On Patrol hero when I saw smoke out in the woods. Then the wind blew again and a cloud of cedar pollen, in the perfect shape of the tree it was leaving from, blew away in front of me. I wish I had video of it. I've seen it on the news before, but never such a perfect example of it live.

---

That was it's soul leaving due to Austin's overdevelopment.

The word on the street is that there is going to be big doings at Crank and Drank this week. Food, drink, music, good times. Fantastic trail conditions, good weather, and good eats. What else can you ask for?

6 pm behind ATX Bikes.

Any updates on the trails? Maybe Slaughter Creek?

Any news on trail conditions today? Would think it's getting close to riding...seeing if anyone has been out today?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 2112Greg

Any news on trail conditions today? Would think it's getting close to riding...seeing if anyone has been out today?

---

I rode most of the Circle C/Veloway trails yesterday and they were still pretty soft and gummy. I had to ride the edge from time to time to keep from going though really wet/soft spots. It was a slow ride!

Some high school team (not sure if it was Bowie) and several other solo riders/small groups were also out riding. I don't know if the small amount of rain down south last night did anything either. Seems like if it didn't, things should be in better shape today than yesterday. My guess is that it's okay but perhaps still a bit soft.

Thanks, that's not what I wanted to hear... ;)

With more rain possible tomorrow, I was hopeful to get out for a spin tonight...not sure if that would be good to do though. Thanks for the heads up...!

STOP READING THIS AND GET ON YOUR BIKE NOW!

Okay, I'm disappointed you are still here, but I just got back so I'll give a report. Everything I rode was wonderful. Three small muddy spots on Firehouse, one small spot on Bambi, all easily avoidable. I was trying avoid the traditionally wet spots, but even Mopac north of The Hump was good.

Heading out now...

(Muchacho Greg here..got your email too, thanks for the report!)

Just got back. Some of the corners were still greasy. The rocks were surprisingly dry. I picked up some dirt on the tires, but not enough to leave tracks. if we get fulll Sun on Thursday, Friday should be hero dirt.

What's with the perfume explosion out there? Amazing. I can't even see the flowers or whatever but the air is definitely full of spring time.

While I've got you I just want to say a couple of things. First...WTF is wrong with people? On Firehouse, specifically on Firehouse Gold, someone has made two short cuts on one of the curvy sections close to one of the tree houses. Why? WHY? That trail is NOT for transportation. It is for recreation. Just stupid.

Second, I use to tell people that Dick Nichols was the center of the SATN universe. But now with so much going on further south it has skewed that way. I would say that ATX Bikes is more of the geographical center. Interesting. I will also say that the SATN mileage is way over 70 miles now. Not a doubt in my mind.

Third, the trails are in perfect shape right now. Still packed in, no moon dust. The grass is green but has not started to encroach on the trail tread yet. So pleasant and fun.

Fourth, the user group is expanding. I saw several interesting family groups yesterday. Not just on the Violet Crown Trail orDick Nichols sidewalk. Some parents with surprisingly small kids on some of the more obscure trails. It was very cool to see.

Just random thoughts. That's all for now.

The perfume you smell is likely from the Mexican plum trees (more of a sweet smell, kind of like a Dove soap bar) or Mountain Laurels (more of a sweet tangy smell).

Heads up on the trail that comes up from the stream crossing by Whirlpool Cave and intersects with the concrete path... With families now using the Violet Crown Trail – families with little kids riding their own bikes – be careful how you enter onto the concrete section of Violet Crown Trail as you come of the dirt trail from the stream crossing. Yesterday, my wife was a bit behind me and came out without taking enough care to see what was happening on the concrete path and there was a little kid cranking down on her heading towards the Convict Hill traffic lights. Not a close miss, but a little scary for my wife and the parents of the kid.

Maybe we can cut some of the bush to make it easier to see both ways. Don't want accidents happening there.

Also, will there be new trails built to recover what will be lost as the VC pathway progresses between the underpass just north of Davis Lane all the way to behind Taco Bueno? If so, I'd like to be included in the layout process and trail building work.

And I was going to post give this its own thread... But I'll include it here...

As we were headed home, by the Convict Hill/Brush Creek traffic light, we saw a father and his daughter on bikes, waiting on the north side (by the walking track park) to cross to the south side. When the white crossing hand came up on the traffic lights, the father led... Listen up... The father led his daughter diagonally across the intersection to get the the VC trail — and did it slowly... But leaving his daughter who was maybe 7 or 8 years old, behind him by about ten feet... We were like "What the hell are you doing?"

Has this kind of ignorance regarding how basic traffic intersections work, where crossing with bikes, been addressed by CoA... Especially in regards to the VC project and all the various folk who'll be using it?

The Violet Crown Trail will not come up behind Taco Bueno.
Here is the routing. There is existing special street markings to denote the VCT routing on Sendera Mesa Drive as it travels along to the Slaughter Lane crossing. The little red circle on the white line is where they are constructing a small bridge to cross that ditch.
Attachment 12708

The story about the father crossing the Convict Hill/Brush Country intersection is very interesting indeed. I voiced that very concern when I was told what the routing would be. I was lobbying for the routing to follow the existing single track, that being to go under the Latta Drive bridge. That way would mean only one street would have to be crossed, Convict Hill. Not two like it has ended up.

That is a good idea to trim back that cedar tree to increase the sight line of the concrete trail/single track intersection.